STAFF REPORT
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
DATE: June 16, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager
By: Justine Bruno, Deputy City Manager
SUBJECT: APPOINTMENT TO FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBER REPRESENTING DISTRICT 3
CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: Make Appointment
SUMMARY
On May 11, 2026, a vacancy occurred in City Council District 3 with the resignation of Eileen Wang. At its May 19, 2026, meeting, the City Council directed the City Manager to solicit applications for appointment to fill the unexpired term , with applications due to the City Clerk’s Office by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 29.
Before the deadline, 11 applications were referred to the City Council as meeting the eligibility requirements. Before i nterviews were held during the June 2 Special Meeting, five applicants withdrew from the process. On June 2, the six remaining candidates were interviewed, but no selection was made. It is recommended that the City Council make an appointment to fill the unexpired term in District 3.
BACKGROUND
In November 2022, Eileen Wang was elected to the Arcadia City Council by District 3 voters and held office until her resignation on May 11, 2026. Ms. Wang’s resignation from the Arcadia City Council creates a vacancy in District 3 for the balance of the term, which is set to expire upon the certification of the November General Municipal Election results.
District 3 Vacancy Appointment
June 16, 2026
At its May 19, 2026, meeting, the City Council considered available options to fill the vacant City Council seat for District 3, determining that an appointment process was the most efficient option to fill the vacancy. During this meeting, the City Council also established the process for filling the vacancy in District 3 , including questions to appear on the application, the interview process, and the point system to be followed to rank candidates.
Beginning at 5:00 p.m. on June 2, six prospective applicants gathered in the Council Chambers to be interviewed for the District 3 City Council vacancy. All applicants met the eligibility requirements for City Council service and were verified as registered voters of District 3. E ach candidate was given an opportunity to provide opening remarks, followed by questions from the City Council.
At the conclusion of the Special Meeting, the City Council had not yet concluded its deliberations or ranked the candidates . As a result, the item was tabled until the Regular Meeting that evening , beginning at 7:00 p.m . Although the appointment process was briefly revisited during the Regular Meeting, the City Council ultimately continued the item to the June 16 meeting to allow more time for discussion and to make an appointment.
DISCUSSION
By the May 29 deadline, 11 applications were referred to the City Council as meeting the eligibility requirements. Before the interviews began on June 2, five candidates withdrew from the process, leaving six candidates to interview:
• Walter Besocke
• John Han
• Cynthia Ng Monje
• Beth Szymkowski
• Paul Van Fleet
• Lisa Walton
The materials for the remaining applicants are included as Attachment No. 1.
District 3 Vacancy Appointment
June 16, 2026
It is recommended that the City Council make an appointment to fill the unexpired term in District 3 , concluding upon the certification of the November 3 General Municipal Election results.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed appointment does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), as it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impacts of selecting a new member of the City Council through an appointment process are negligible. Associated costs include staff time to update records and publications, provide training and onboarding, and purchase the necessary name plates and badges, business cards , and stationery. None of the expenses generated through an appointment process will require a supplemental budget appropriation and can be absorbed within existing budgets.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that th is action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and make an appointment to fill the unexpired term in District 3.
Attachment No. 1: District 3 Vacancy - City Council Applications - UPDATED
District 3 City Council Interviews
Tuesday, June 2, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
R
uby Chang – Withdrew Application
Gail Littlejohn – Withdrew Application
Eduardo Magallanes – Withdrew Application
William Wu – Withdrew Application
Peter Yoo – Withdrew Application
Name Comments
Wal
ter Besocke
J
ohn Han
Cynthia Ng Monje
Beth Szymkowski
Paul Van Fleet
Lisa Walton
Attachment No. 1